Line clamp



April 9 -J. L. YONKERS 2,279,807

LINE CLAMP Filed Jan. 22, 1941 Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE amasor 2 Y LINE GLAMP John L. Yonkers, Evanston, Ill. 7Application January 22,1941, Serial No. 375,443

7 Claims.

This invention relates to line clamps and aims to'provide a lightweight, simple and easily manipulated clamp for establishing aconnection to a transmission line. Transmission line wire, usually-ofcopper or aluminum with or without a steel core, is relatively soft.Thus ordinary screw clamps have a relatively concentrated contact regionwhere great pressure may be applied. A transmission wire will usually belocally distorted and weakened under such conditions. With the clamp inposition, the magnitude of loading concentrated on a comparatively smalllength of wire causes the clamped wire to function as a node in avibrating string system. The bending.

of the wire at the node results in crystallization and ultimatebreakage. I

By virtue of this invention, several advantages accrue. Thus extremepressure on the line wire is rendered impossible. Then the loading ofline wire per unit length is so reduced that no tendency for theformation of any definite nodal point onthe wire exists. In addition thesimplicity and speed of manipulation of the clamp either by hand orthrough the use of poles, makes the clamp safe for use on live lines.The locking of the clamp is unaffected by. vibration.

This invention is also advantageous from a manufacturing angle. Theparts required are simple and generally available while the fabricationrequires a minimum of tooling and may be effected in a simple, quick andeconomical manner; 6

The invention generally provides a clamp having a plurality of springpressed wire engaging portions. The length of transmission wireengagedby the clamp as a whole is unimportant within wide limits. It ispreferred to utilize a substantial length however. Since the pull of theconnector wire from the clamp and the weight of the clamp itself aresubstantial, any tendency toward concentrated loading of thetransmission wire should be avoided.

Preferably, the clamp is so fabricated that between the various linewire engaging portions a vibratory system is provided apart from theline wire. Hence the entire clamp functions as a highly complex andvariable shunt for the vibratory forces in the line wire engaged bp theclamp. The net result is that the entire clamped section of wire andclamp interact with constantly varying effect to dissipate the vibratoryenergy in the line. There is no tendency for the formation of nodes atany one portion of the wire.

Referring to the drawing:

" position is shown in dotted lines.

Figure 1 is an elevation view of my improved clamp;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are sectional details onlines 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4respectively of Fig. 1; and I Figs. 5 and 6 are end and front views of amodified form of clamp.

Referringfirst to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, a sheet metal base portion lcarries a jaw l2 formed of wire bent around as shownand adapted toenfold a transmission or other line conductor I 5.

The wirerforming jaw l2 extends downwardly and may be twisted around tosupport a connector bolt I6 to which a branch conductor I! may beattached. The precise construction of these parts is. unimportant'exceptfor the general provision of a base, upper jaw 12 and connection for abranch wire.

'Pivotally carried by base 10, as on a rivet I9 is a clip 20 carrying along spring wire 2|, extending along both sides of the base. One end 2|of the wire may be bent in a generally S-shape as shown in Fig. 2 toformone anchorloop 22 normally engaging transmission wire on a side oppositeto that engaged by jaw I 2.' The other end 24 of. wire is first bent toform a ring .25 and then a wire engaging anchor portion 26 generallysimilar to portion 22.

Ring 25 may be'used for supportingthe entire clamp by hand or pole wheninstalling or removing. For installation, jaw I2 is first dropped downon line wire I5. In this position, wire 21 may be almost vertical withring 25 above the pivot. Ring 25 is then pulled down so that primaryanchor portion 22 engages wire 15. This Then ring 25 is pulled down'to'spring wire 2| and permits locking anchor portion 26 to engage wire l5.

So long as some spring is provided in the part carrying the two anchorportions 22 and 26, the various parts may be constructed in any desiredmanner. As shown, the parts are made of wire having desirable spring,providing a light strong and cheap construction. The pull of the branchconductor is carried by upper jaw l2 and for this reason it is preferredto make the jaw as a whole extend along line wire l5 for-a distance. Infact, this jaw may be made of sheet metal if desired so that the forceon line wire [5 is distributed. In practice two wire portions as shownwill be ample both for mechanical and lectrical purposes.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, a base block 3|] carrying a connectorbolt 3| to which a branch wire 32 is connected, is provided. Carried bybase block a straight loop 33 for handling the clamp and a bent loop toform a jaw 34 for engaging line wire 35. Pivoted on a pin 36 on base 30is a wire member having a curvilinear cam portion 31 extending into aspring arm portion 38 and terminating in an anchor portion 39. Anchorportion 39 may have a ring 40 formed as well as the looped anchorportion proper 4i engaging line wire 35 from above. Cam portion 31normally enters upper jaw 34 to press-wire 35 from the bottom.

Cam portion 31, which may be springyor not, as desired, is forcedagainst wire 35 and anchor said first wire, said second wire beinghooked to engage the line wire remote from said first wire. said twowires being sprung to engage a section of line wire with the actualplaces of contact to the line wire being small and separated by longdistances whereby the connector load on the line loop II is sprung overwire 35. The tension of;

arm 38 keeps loop 4| tightly in position. In this construction, fiatloop 33 may be used initially for 34 on line wire 35. Then the clamp isreleased and ring 40 may be pushed up against the sprin of the cam andarm and locked in position.

It is clear that the clamp can swing sideways around the wire ifhecessary. The clamp may have the line wire engaging portionsof softcopper so that no wear or abrasion of the line wire will be possible.Any relative swinging of the clamp on the line wire will tend to keepthe contact surfaces clean. Due to the wire construction, the weight ofthe clamp is low and is distributed over any length of transmission wiredesired. Vibratory waves coming along the wire to the clamped sectionwill divide. The complex action of the clamp on vibrations results insubstantial damping and prevent formation of any definite nodes alongthe line wire.

While I have shown the clamp as having spring and the transmission lineas being relatively rigid, it is clear that my invention is not toberestricted in this fashion. The clamp may be rigid as far as movementof the arms to and from the line wire is concerned. The tension in theline wire, apart from any inherent elasticity in the wire itself, can beutilized as a flexible force. In essence, my invention contemplates alight weight clamp engaging a length of transmission wire long incomparison to the diameter thereof with the engagement maintained byyielding I along said line wire for a distance great in comparison tothe length of line wire contacted by wire is distributed with every partof the connector contacting the line wire being independently springmounted.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second wire extends fromopposite sides of the base and has two hooked ends.

, 3. A line connector comprising a base having a terminal, a firstspring wire carried by said base and hooked to permit hanging theconnector from a line wire, a second spring wire carried by said baseand extending on opposite sides therefrom and spaced from but extendingalong the line wire for a distance great in comparison to the length ofline wire contacted by said first wire, said second wire having the endshooked to engage the line wire, said wiresbeing sprung toengage asection of line wire with the actual places of contact to the line wirebeing small and separated by long distances whereby the connector loadon the line wire is distributed with every part of the connectorcontacting the line wire being independently spring mounted.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the second wire is pivotally mountedto move generally in a plane containing the line wire and wherein thesecond wire has a loop near an end for use in mounting and removing theconnector.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein the first wire has two spaced hookedparts.

6. A line connector comprising a base having a terminal, a first'springwire carried by said base and hooked to permit hanging from a line wire;a second spring wire pivotally mounted on said base and movablegenerally in a plane containing the line wire, said second wire having agenerally spiral spring. section adjacent the pivot and then extendingfor a distance to terminate in a line wire engaging hook, the plane ofsaid spiral section lying with the plane of movement of said second wireand so shaped and located that when the second wire is sprung and hookedto the line wire said spiral section presses against the line wire toforce the wire into the first hooked wire.

'7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said first spring wire has twoparts hooked to engage the line wire at spaced points and wherein thespiral section engages the line wire between the two hooks on the firstwire.

I JOHN- L. YONKERS.

